EAST-FLORIDA 227 



bars, which are so common on the southern coasts of 

 North America, that before St. Augustin is unques- 

 tionably the most dangerous, because the shallowest 

 and at the same time exposed to the total force of the 

 ocean playing upon it. Ordinarily there are but 3, 

 often only 2 channels where it can be crossed, and 

 these at ebb-tide with only 4-4^ ft. of water, and at 

 high tide with not more than 8-9. These channels 

 which of themselves admit nothing but small and 

 light vessels, are besides narrow and crooked, and 

 what is worse they shift so generally after stormy 

 weather, on account of the quick-sand which forms 

 the bar, that a seaman, quite familiar with them, after 

 a brief absence from Augustin cannot without risk 

 take the old course to which he had been used. The 

 pilots therefore, as often as they come out to bring in 

 a ship, must examine the passage anew. Nor will 

 they take a vessel in or out except at flood tide, and 

 the tide must not have reached its height ; for in case 

 the vessel fares ill, the rising tide would float it again, 

 unless already broken by the heavy shocks, or those on 

 board might with the help of boards &c. swim off to 

 shore, which is about the only means of escape, since 

 boats can be of no use in the circumstances. It is in- 

 deed a fearful thing to hear the wild tumult of these 

 breaking seas and to behold them on all sides foaming 

 and tossing, and it is no comfort, when one's voyage is 

 ended but for a mile or two, to be then exposed to the 

 greatest danger of all, if the port, which is in plain 

 sight, is really to be made. It has become so common 

 at St. Augustine to see ships aground on this bar and 

 this coast generally, that disasters of the sort have 

 almost ceased to arouse sympathy or wonder. After 



